What are the meanings of “predestined to encounter” and

“chance to participate?” (43)

To understand the meanings of “predestined to encounter” and

“chance to participate”, one must first examine the cumulative

merits of a person.  If a person is a Yuan-fo-zi³⁰ and his True Self

is not completely covered, he will develop and strengthen his faith

as soon as he hears Tao.  When his faith develops and strengthens,

he will practice Tao.  This is the true meaning of predestined to

encounter Tao.

The phrase “chance to participate” really means peerage.  He who

is predestined to encounter Tao will hold fast to Tao in his heart.  He

will not relax at all in building his merits, for he is afraid of falling

behind others.  This type of person will eventually attain Tao.  Once

he attains Tao, God will ordain him peerage in accordance with his

merits.  This person is both predestined to encounter Tao and has

the chance to participate in the Holy Mission of God.

On the other hand, he who knows Tao but is not willing to learn

is not predestined to encounter, and he who learns but does not

practice tenaciously will not have the chance to participate. 

There is an old saying “He who would not learn in childhood

possesses no skills when grown.  He who would not learn in

adulthood worries as he ages.”  So one should never say that

there is tomorrow or next year as one’s excuse for refusal to learn

and waste today or this year.  With each passage of time, less time

is left.  One surely will regret his inactions later when he realizes

he should have acted.  A practitioner of Tao will not do what he

will regret.  Besides, by the time one realizes and regrets, it really

is too late to catch up.